You may notice crews out in your neighbourhood over the next couple of months as we complete our biannual hydrant flushing program.
Fire hydrant flushing helps keep our water system working well. It ensures hydrants are ready for firefighting and helps maintain quality water for residents and businesses.
Schedule
Work started in May and will continue over the next couple of months. We complete this work twice a year—once in the spring and again in the fall.
What to Expect
- When hydrants are flushed, you may see water flowing onto the street. This is normal!
- Flushing confirms the hydrant is working properly and helps remove sediment that can build up over time from hard water deposits—similar to what you might see in a tea kettle.
- Each flush typically lasts just a few minutes.
- The water is dechlorinated at the hydrant, and most of it flows through the storm drain system back to the Sheep River, returning to its natural environment. In other words, the water isn’t wasted.
- The Water Services team also monitors water clarity and chlorine residuals throughout the process.
Potential Impacts
You may notice temporary changes to your tap water during flushing including including low water pressure. It’s safe to use, but it might appear slightly discoloured as minerals and deposits are stirred up.
If this happens:
- Turn on a cold water tap
- Let it run for about five minutes
- If the water doesn’t clear, please contact Water Services at 403-938-1230 from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hydrant Flushing & Safety page
To learn more about our water services, visit our Water Services page.